StraightFromTheHip

Details:

Date: Late 90’s - Present

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Description: Skatepark Master Planning, a “Skatepark System”

Situation:

It was the late 90’s and not many skateparks existed. The City of Albuquerque completed construction and opened their centrally located Civic Plaza (a street skater’s dream). It was immediated sessioned by the local skateboard community and even attracted touring action sports teams. This was occuring at the same time other public parks were becoming unsafe in the city.

Key Challenges:

• Skaters severely damaged the newly construction civic plaza
• No legal place for local riders to go
• City parks were becoming dangerous problematic

Process Highlights:

• The local skateboarders petitioned for a place to go
• City conducted feasibility studies
• Built the first regional skatepark (Los Altos)
• City recognized need for a larger master planned “Skatepark System”
• Policy/structure for funding skateparks in the system fall under the following categories:
  • Regional
  • Quadrant
  • Neighborhood
• Types of skateparks included in the “Skatepark Master Plan”:
  • In-ground — concrete construction
  • Above-ground — modular ramp equipment
  • Hybrid combinations

Results:

• A good system of planning and positioning skateparks has been established to keep up with the needs
• Provides the most riding opportunities with the least amount of travel
• Skateparks that cater to all skill levels and riding disciplines
• The skateparks have brought a positive activity to problematic parks

SFTH Comments:

Planning skateparks by oranizing them into formal “Skatepark Systems” is a growing trend across the United States and Europe. Las Vegas, NV and Phoenix, AZ have been doing it for some time now and Portland, OR and Denver, CO are underway, to name a few. A lot can be learned from Albuquerque, NM which now hosts one of the world’s most well rounded skatepark offerings. Wish this would have happened in the late 80’s/early 90’s so us Gen Xers could have reaped the rewards with better knees!

Content and images provided courtesy of ARTIFEX Skatepark Environments, City of Albuquerque website